The latest Dustin McGowan MLB and fantasy baseball news

Free-agent RP Dustin McGowan (Blue Jays) signed a one-year, $507,500 deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday, Feb. 23. He'll receive a $1 million bonus if he's on the roster out of spring training, and he can make an extra $1.5 million in incentives. The Dodgers will be without RP Kenley Jansen (foot) for at least a month to start the year.

Fantasy Tip: McGowan comes in and will compete for a late-inning bullpen job with Jansen out of the picture to start the season. There's a chance he could be considered for ninth-inning duties in the meantime, but it's unlikely given LA's other options like Joel Peralta, Brandon League and J.P. Howell.

Fantasy Tip: With closer Kenley Jansen sidelined for 8-12 weeks, this move would likely be to shore up the Dodgers bullpen. McGowan's fantasy value should be watched during spring as he posted a 3.35 ERA and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched after Toronto sent him to the bullpen.

Free-agent RP Dustin McGowan (Blue Jays) has received interest from the Baltimore Orioles, according to sources. The Orioles are believed to be one of several teams that have expressed interest in McGowan.

The Toronto Blue Jays may have interest in bringing back RP Dustin McGowan at a lower salary, after the team declined his 2015 option. "When we did that contract, the option salary was $4 million and I understand there are relievers that make $4 million but that was based on him as a starter," Anthopoulos said. "Right now, that number was just too high for us."

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos singled out SP Dustin McGowan and 2B Ryan Goins as two of the team's weak spots during an ESPN podcast Thursday, April 24. McGowan has a 6.88 ERA and a 1.824 WHIP in four starts this season, and he admitted that he's becoming fatigued when he reaches the 60 to 65 pitch range. SPs J.A. Happ and Marcus Stroman are candidates to take McGowan's spot in the rotation if they choose to go that route. Goins has improved the club's overall defense with his leather at the keystone, but his bat isn't endearing him to the GM.

Fantasy Tip: McGowan and Goins are purely AL-only fantasy commodities. Toronto may prefer to give Happ a shot at a rotation spot because of his experience, but Stroman is the better speculative pickup in AL leagues

Fantasy Tip: McGowan's rough start makes him a candidate to be bumped from the rotation. Look for better options in mixed leagues. The Jays could go with a six-man rotation eventually if McGowan doesn't turn things around.